LULAC Technology Committee Is Poised and Ready to Lead the League into the new world of broadband for all
The Organization’s Tech Team Is Empowered and Already Underway Establishing Hubs for a Nationwide Roll-Out.
“The horizon is wide, and the sky is limitless in the digital space,” says Caroline Sanchez Crozier, LULAC Technology Committee Chairperson
LULAC has been on the broadband-for-all launch pad, and our crew is ready! In today’s interconnected world, the Internet serves as the backbone of our society. It powers education, fuels the economy, supports our health and well-being, and connects us to our loved ones and neighbors. However, a significant portion of the American population is deprived of these benefits due to a lack of internet access. Shockingly, approximately one in five American households remain unconnected, preventing them from fully participating in modern life.
This is why we are so excited by the news! The Biden-Harris Administration has announced allocations for a $42.45 billion high-speed internet grant program as part of the Advancing America Agenda. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce has disclosed the distribution of funds to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories to facilitate the deployment of affordable and reliable high-speed internet services nationwide. This comprehensive initiative, the “Internet for All” program, is a pivotal pillar of President Biden’s broader mission to propel the nation’s progress through strategic investments.
The internet has become essential to function, unlike any other utility. As we learned from the pandemic crisis, people without high-speed internet access were the most vulnerable; Latinx households were among those disproportionately impacted. Many students could not access remote learning opportunities, widening the achievement gap. Adults that could not work remotely had no choice but to find or continue work in person, often without proper protection. Putting themselves and their loved ones at higher risk, with no virtual health access, threatened lives and even caused deaths.
All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories will employ the funds from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to administer grant programs within their respective jurisdictions.
Recognizing that internet access is not a luxury but a necessity, the Biden-Harris administration has taken proactive steps to improve digital equity. They have allocated a substantial $65 billion to expand internet access, aiming to ensure that every individual in America has access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet. With the varied landscape across our nation, some communities have suffered the most because of the higher cost to bring them access, providers have decided the profit margin is not worthwhile, leaving them disconnected. The lack of high-speed Internet has created ghost towns, forcing residents to flee for access. Other communities are on the brink, with residents requiring high-speed Internet to run their businesses, work remotely to supplement their income or earn their degree online. There is no question that the impact of high-speed Internet goes beyond individuals; it strengthens our country as a whole. It saves us time and money, creates job opportunities within the United States, and fosters connections that build a more robust and accessible society.
Crozier adds, “While high-speed Internet has transformed various aspects of our world, we must be vigilant to ensure that the new opportunities evolving from technology are available for everyone. We also need to protect ourselves from growing threats in cyberspace reaching the most vulnerable in our communities who aren’t aware nor prepared. We not only need safe access, but we also need education, an upskilled workforce, and vigilance from bad actors that can cause harm in our homes, communities, and places of work.”
Maximizing Educational Opportunities:
Access to high-speed Internet is crucial for students to access quality education and training, enabling them to compete globally. Whether completing homework assignments, researching, or applying to colleges and trade schools, students rely on the Internet for their academic pursuits. Unfortunately, students without internet access at home face significant disadvantages and may fall behind their peers. But access and use are not enough, we need Latino students to be creators of and have a voice in the development of future technologies, and input with the leaps in the development of AI, with representation in the workforce, is crucial to preventing AI bias. It’s also exciting to think about the amount of innovation that will come from broadband-for-all. Having access to the vast amount of information at their fingertips and answers to lingering questions encourages sparks of curiosity and creativity. They need to be exposed to Computer Science as early as pre-school and integrated into all content areas to become ready critical thinkers and problem solvers, regardless of what career path they take. And further, with only 8% Latinos and 2% Latinas in the tech workforce, the upskilling of Latino teachers is essential, such as coding and STEAM. Representation in the classroom is needed to inspire more Latinos to aspire to tech careers. The current demographics in the workforce and lack of representation in the classroom have led to a vicious cycle of oppression, with messages from the media, schools, and even adults in their lives (believing stereotypes of what computer scientists and programmers “look like” based on the current workforce), has lead to internalized oppression, meaning many Latino youths think they are not capable of future careers in tech. This has made it extremely difficult to see a change in the field and break the cycle.
Stimulating Economic Growth:
By connecting workplaces, we can establish stronger links between businesses and consumers. This connectivity opens up new markets, increasing sales and job creation. High-speed Internet empowers American companies to compete for talent and expand their reach in the global marketplace. Additionally, it helps workers connect with well-paying jobs, regardless of their geographical location.
Lowering Healthcare Costs: Telehealth has emerged as a revolutionary development that enhances access to healthcare anywhere and anytime. By reducing the need for hospital visits and shortening stay durations, telehealth lowers costs, facilitates access to preventative care, and improves patient care. It is vital in improving healthcare access and outcomes for individuals nationwide.
Strengthening Community Bonds:
High-speed Internet connects us to essential services, allowing first responders to save lives and enabling us to engage with our elected officials. Moreover, it strengthens our ties to friends and loved ones, regardless of their location. The Internet has become indispensable for fostering community connections and enhancing our daily lives.
Investing in a Robust Workforce:
High-speed Internet improves access to education, job opportunities, and high-quality workers. It connects job applicants with resources and training for skill development, empowering them to qualify for well-paying jobs, irrespective of their geographical constraints.
Who Can Get Access to Broadband:
Crozier says, “To ensure that high-speed Internet is accessible and affordable for all, the Administration has implemented initiatives to lower the cost of Internet services. They are lowering internet costs for millions of families through partnerships with service providers. By visiting GetInternet.gov, individuals can learn about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how it can reduce their internet expenses.”
The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program offers additional benefits for those seeking more affordable high-speed Internet. It provides service discounts of up to $30 per month, with an increased discount of up to $75 per month for qualifying Tribal lands. Furthermore, individuals can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 for a qualifying device. Eligibility for these benefits can be determined based on enrollment in government programs. The FCC’s National Broadband Map displays where Internet services are available across the United States, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It is important that we are all proactive about checking the information for our location and following through with providing feedback to dispute or challenge the inaccurate information, the FCC will review and correct it. This is the best way to ensure that providers are accurately marketing and reporting Internet speeds and costs and the only way to have data that accurately reflect areas without high-speed Internet.
Digital Equity: Latino Students Struggled with Access to Education During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology became a lifeline for families as they went into quarantine. However, for many low-income Latino families and their children, Internet access proved a significant challenge. Without Wi-Fi, some students were forced to do their homework in parking lots to access public hotspots. There were instances where students had to be driven to locations like McDonald’s or libraries just to connect to public Wi-Fi because they had no internet access at home.
Even before the pandemic hit the United States, a study conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that 57% of Hispanic adults owned a desktop computer or laptop, compared to 82% of White adults. Additionally, around 25% of Hispanics surveyed stated that they only had internet access through smartphones. As the pandemic surged, a survey conducted in April by SOMOS found that nearly 40% of Latinos did not have broadband internet access at home, and 32% did not have a computer.
While many school districts provided laptops to students for online learning, the supply was insufficient to meet the demand. This lack of proper resources devastates families, according to labor leader and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta. She emphasized that catching up will require extensive efforts as these underserved communities were already behind before the pandemic.
Access to Broadband Is Essential So Latinos Can Prepare to Compete in the AI World
A recent study explored the technological challenges undergraduates face at a large, Hispanic-serving public university with a significant population of low-income and first-generation students. The study results indicated that internet quality and device reliability were the most important concerns for students, with nearly one-third reporting issues related to these factors. The incidence of the first level of the digital divide, as observed in this study, aligns more closely with national studies focusing on college-bound high school students or K-12 households in California rather than nationwide studies or research conducted at R1 institutions.
Specifically, within the sample, 21% of students did not have the optimal device combination of a smartphone and a laptop or desktop, while 3% relied solely on a phone and tablet. A recent study of higher education in California reported that 10% of students across 23 California State University campuses lacked computer access. In comparison, 8% of students at the nine undergraduate University of California campuses faced similar challenges.
Furthermore, the disparity in internet quality was significantly greater but consistent with the findings. Unstable internet access was reported by 29% of students in the study, compared to 17% nationally. Similar discrepancies were observed when comparing data from other California State University and UC campuses. The EducationTrust—West, a nonprofit organization, found that 12% of students nationally and in California reported limited or sporadic internet access.
AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time, with broad applications. President Biden has been clear that to seize the opportunities AI presents, we must first manage its risks. To that end, the Administration has taken significant action to promote responsible AI innovation that places people, communities, and the public good at the center and manages risks to individuals and our society, security, and economy. (From the White House Briefing Room).
# # #
Credits: LULAC.org